My youngest brother Brian lived in Africa for seventeen years as a missionary: three years in Benin, seven in South Africa, and then seven in Zambia. Soon after my first stem cell transplant in 2001, Brian and his family invited all of my family to visit them over the Christmas holidays in Cape Town, South Africa.
If it had just been an invitation to me, I would have probably declined. But Susan and the kids had confidence that I would be strong enough to travel, and the kids agreed that money should be no obstacle.
When we arrived in Cape Town, I was greeted by a group of Christians who had been fervently praying for my healing. I was welcomed as a family member and I still remember their hugs and hospitality.
For years, Brian worked diligently with young gang members in the inner city of Cape Town, always rated as one of the highest murder capitols of the world. We met several of his guys and saw the challenges they faced living for Christ in such a violent environment.
Brian and his family now live in Texas, but he frequently gets to travel back to Africa to visit the places where he has labored. Last month Brian visited four countries and got to spend some time in Cape Town. He wrote me a note that included this story:
All the saints send their greetings to you from Cape Town. They all thank God for your health.
It was good to be with the old gangsters. One called me up at the last minute and said I had to meet him in the old neighborhood. He told me which corner to meet him on.
I met him and he introduced his wife and two little girls to me. He had remained faithful along with his mother; had converted his wife, and is now raising his daughters in the Lord.
He just wanted to let me see what taking the time with him as a youth resulted in with his young family. That was really a special time for me.
We know God gives the increase… but without his servants planting the seed, watering the plants, and faithfully praying… what happens to the fruit? May we accept the invitation to be ‘God’s fellow workers.’
“What after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:5-9